The Player and the Nobody

Chapter 22: The After Effects

§The After Effects§

*Maggie's POV*

"I can't believe he didn't tell me. Did he really think I wouldn't find out? Does he think I'm stupid? Do I look stupid? I'm not stupid! Anyone who thinks I'm stupid so help them God! I just don't understand! It's so frustrating! I- aaaggghhh!!!" Jessi continues to rant as we sit on my bed. She punches my pillow again and shoves another spoonful of Cookies & Cream ice cream in her mouth.

"If it makes you feel better, I know someone who wants to date you..."

Jessi rolls her eyes and laughs, "Yeah right. Who would want to be with me? Every relationship I get in is a disaster. It's like the universe wants me to stay single!"

I smile thinking about how Seth would react to her being single.

"Okay, but seriously my love life absolutely sucks!" Jessi continues to punch the pillow.

"What's up with her?" Derek asks leaning on his window sill.

"Uh..." I look at Jessi and she gives me a look saying I can tell him, "She just broke up with her boyfriend."

"Most chicks cry. Why aren't you?"

"Because I don't cry." I hold in my laugh as she gives me "the look".

"Well do you wanna punch something that will help get your anger out better?" Derek points behind him to his punching bag.

Jessi shrugs and I nod as Derek motions for us to come over to the windows, "Just climb through here."

I gulp nervously while Jessi is already half way through the window, "Are you sure? It's pretty dangerous... A very high drop."

"Stop being such a wimp and live some." Jessi shouts after jumping down from the sill.

I nervously stumble over to the windows and step up, "I'M GONNA DIE! I'M GONNA DIE! I'M GONNA DIE!" I shut my eyes tightly.

"You're not going to die. Here let me help you." Derek's soothing voice speaks over my loud thumping heart beat. I slowly open my eyes and see Derek standing on his sill and reaching for me. I reach out, put a foot on the edge, and accidentally look down.

"AHHH!" I jump over the rest of the way and fall with Derek under me. Now I know what you're thinking awww..... No. No aweing. The scene you are thinking of is the movie scenes where they look into each other's eyes totally unaffected from the fall. Well this was very different. The fall really hurt and I bet it hurt Derek a lot more than it did me. We had the wind knocked out of us and there was no romantic staring.

"Oomph!" Derek coughs out as I lay on top of him with my eyes squeezed shut and Jessi aggressively beating the crap out of the punching bag in the background.

"Sorry." I say as I roll off him and onto the floor.

"See," He coughs, "You didn't die."

"Yea... Thanks for that. Sorry again about the fall. Your sill should be closer to the floor..." I stand up and look over at Jessi who has already broke a sweat and is still going at the same speed.

"Remind me to never get on Jessi's bad side..." Derek says watching Jessi's swift movements. I laugh and sit on his bed, "So did she break up with him or the other way around?"

"She did it."

"So why is she this angry?"

"He lied to her about... Uh... Stuff..."

"Oh. You mean the fact that he wasn't on vacation during Sophomore year?" Jessi stops mid-swing and turns around.

"Wait you knew?"